Fertilizing scale-poison.



WILLIAM RENATUS KLECKNER, F BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

FERTILIZING SCALE-POISON.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. KLEOK- NER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Bay City, in the county of Bay and State ofMichigan, have invented a new and Improved Fertilizing Scale-Poison, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description. Theinvention has in view a composition which when applied as hereinafterindicated, exterminates and destroys all kinds of parasitical insectsinfesting various parts of fruit, forest and ornamental trees or shrubsand vines, and, further, which will operate to discharge food productsdirectly into the sap, supplying an immediate stimulation and rapidfertilization of all tissues and growing parts of trees, quicklycorrecting the failing activity and low vitality caused by the ravagesof parasitical insects onloy depleted and barren or unsatisfactory s01s.

In the manufacture of the fertilizing scale poison, two mixtures aremade, which,

for convenience of description I will term A and B. Mixture A consistsof the following according to percentages by weight: potassium cyanid95%, phosphoric acid 5%. Second mixture consists of the followingaccording to relative percentages by weight:'

ferric chlorid 45%, ferric nitrate 50%,

bread crumbs (dried) 5%. All the chemicals employed are preferablychemically pure.

In the preparation of mixture A, the po tassium cyanid and phosphoricacid are ground together in a porcelain mortar or other grindingmachine, to such a fineness that the entire mass passes through a sieve40 having'fourteen meshes per inch. The pulverized material after beingthoroughly mixed is transferred to dry gelatin capsules of the customaryform and sizeknown to the drug trade as double naught, these capsuleshaving a capacity when filled with mixture A, of 1.5 grams.

In the preparation of mixture B, the ferric chlorid, ferric nitrate andbread crumbs in the proportions as above indicated, are

ground together in the same manner and to the same fineness and thorouhly mixed. This mixture is. then placed into gelatin capsules of sizedouble naught, which capsules when filled with mixture Bhold approximately 1.3 grams.

' In the application of mixtures A and B,

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 4, 1910. Serial No. 564,931.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

constituting the fertilizing scale poison, to the tree, shrub or vine,the two mixtures are inserted under the bark of the tree after beingremoved from the capsules. This may be done by making a transverse cutinto the bark of the tree about one-half inch long with any suitableinstrument, such as a pocket knife, and from each extremity of thistransverse out making a longitudinal incision downward about one inchlong. This section of bark, cut on three sides as indicated, is thenbent out and the two gelatin capsules, with caps removed, containingmixtures A and B respectively, are placed in the cavity thus formed.After the contents of the two capsules, that is both mixtures, have beeninserted into the tree, the lip of the bark is bent back and tightlypressed to place. The entire section of the bark is afterward coveredwith a grafting wax, which completes the method of application.

The second method consists in taking the two capsules containing themixtures A and B, and dissolving the same in one ounce of cold water.Chemical action at once ensues, and the resulting solution is inreadiness for immediate application.

A curved and elastic steel or iron wire one-eighth of an inch indiameter and of convenient length, is thrust into the bark and pushedhalf way around the branch or trunk between the bark and wood and thenwithdrawn. The channel under the bark thus formed is then filled withthe water solution of fertilizing scale poison as above prepared, theinjection of the fluid into the channel under the bark being madeordinarily by the use of a syringe having a long narrow nozzle. Afterthe nozzle is removed from the entrance of the channel, the latter isthen closed with the grafting wax, which completes this method ofapplication.

The application of the compound should be made at a point about thetrunk of the tree in such a manner that the compound is embedded alittle below the angle If the spreading branches, to insure perfectdistribution.

The most advantageous time of application is during the early spring ata time when-the leaves are just breaking forth and the sap has wellstarted to flow. Application, however, can be made at any time thatvconditions may warrant, until the fruit has matured. The action of thecompound is as the capsules filled with fertilizing scale poison, orchannel under the bark containing a solution of the same, is rapidlyfilled with'sap. Sap normally contains approXi-- mately 90% Water, andreadily dissolves the inclosed compound or its solution. Theinsecticidal and fertilizing value of the. compound depends on thechemical combination of the potassium cyanid and the combined ferricchlorid and ferric nitrate, producing hydro-cyanic acid in a free statewith potassium chlorid, potassium nitrate and ferric hydroxid asresulting products. It is evident that water is the starting point ofthis complete reaction, and, hence, the sap afl'ords an eifioientreagent to start and complete the desired chemical combination.

The insecticidal element is the free and active hydra-cyanic acid, whichis readily soluble in all roportions in water, and, hence," is carriedto all parts of the tree by the flow of the sap. In the course of thedistribution of the poisoned sap, all parasitical insects that suck outand extract the soluble food materials from the sap are immediatelykilled. A am, the odor of hydrocyanic acid emitted rom the dead body ofa 1 scale insect for instance, even kills the un hatched eggs concealedunder the protective covering of the insect. In this manner thefertilizing scale poison is adapted to completely, quickly andpermanently exterminate all forms of suctorialparasitical insects thatmay infest the bark, leaves, flowers or'fruit. The insecticidal value ofthe composition extends to all forms of .bugs, beetles, worms, fungi; aswell as to both armored and'naked'scale insects and their eggs.

.Hydro-cyanic acid although violently poisonous even in minutequantities, is in no way detrimentalto any part of the tree,'nor doesitinterfere with any of the normal functions of the sap, and in no eventis it retained within the fruit. Any hydrocyanic acid retained in thebark or tissues of young branches is those parts, as is evi enced by thefact that hydro' cyanic acid compounds are often found andformed inthose parts duringthe natural course of growth, without any applicationof any character. Hydro-cyanic acid entering the leaf is rapidlydecomposed by the carbon dioxid-of the air, into formic acid andammonia, both of which are in no way harmful. Hydro-'cyanic acidentering the fruit in the presence of such organic acids,

' always present, as malic, citric, acetic, racemic, tartaric,'succinic, 't-annic and'other acids, 1s rapidly decomposed into ammoniumformate or double cyanids, which are er-' 'fectly neutralized and insome mysterious,

manner always find their way into the kernels and seeds of thefruit.Under erfectly harmless to normal and natural conditions the seeds andkernels of all fruits contain these very compounds of hydro-cyanic acid.Hence, the seeds and kernels serve as the receptacles for any excessthat may find its way into the 7 flower or fruit.

Phosphoric acid is added to serve as a plant food, to stimulate growthof tender tissues and replenish young cells with the very element thatthe nuclei require for the purpose of propagation. Scale insects inparticular absorb such a large amount of the phosphorous com ounds, thatinfested trees naturally suffer f i'om want of this particular food.Again, the nucleus of each so individual cell is directly dependent uponits phosphoric acid to perform itsvarious functions properly, and sincethe nucleus is the most highly specialized and controlling center ofvitality it is -'a most im ortant stimulant. Phosphoric acidmust ge wellsupplied, otherwise the tree will be subject to slow growth and bearfruit of inferior quality. A generous supply of phosphoric acid promotesthe formation of chloroplastids and chlorophyll, and figures prominentlyin the transformation of starches into sugars during the fruitingseason.

Potassium chlorid and potassium nitrate formed in sap are importantplant foods, and since they are readily soluble are quickly distributedto the desired points. These two elements promote, turgescence or rootpressure, improving the absorbing powers of trees, and 'in thetransformation of 1 starches into sugars, stimulate the formation ofprotein and related nitrogenous compounds, and enhance the brilliancy offruit colors.

The bread crumbs added to mixture B serve simply as a diluent anddesiccating agent to keep the mixturedry, since both ferric chlorid andferric nitrate absorb moisture very greedily. The ferric hydroxidprecipitated in sap during the chemical combination of the severalconstituents of the compound, remains as an insoluble sludge at first,but is gradually absorbed and dissolved by the sap, although veryslowly., Ferric hydroxid is so plentifully found in all soils that itsvalue is not great, I but nevertheless quickly corrects an unbal ancedcondition of sa that may require it, and promotes the ormation ofcellular tissues and'chlorophyll, the green coloring matt'er of alltrees.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure.by Letters Patent:

'1. A fertilizing scale poison for trees,

shrubs and vines, containing potassiumwhich contains an alkali metalcyanid, a chlorid of the iron group, and. a nitrate of the iron group.

3. A fertilizing scale poison for trees, shrubs and vines, containing analkali metal cyanid, chlorid of iron and nitrate of iron in the presenceof a 'desiccating agent.

4. A fertilizing scale poison for trees, shrubs and vines, containingpotassium cyanid, ferric chlorid, ferric nitrate and bread crumbs.

5. A fertilizing scale poison for trees, shrubs and vines, containing acyanid, a

chlorid and a nitrate, the cyanid, the chlorid.

and the nitrate capable of reacting in the presence of water to producehydrocyanic acid in a free state and a fertilizing chlorid and nitrate.

6. A fertilizing scale poison for trees, shrubs and vines, containing asoluble cyanid, chlorid, and nitrate salts of iron,

said cyanid and salts reacting in the presence of water to producehydrocyanic acid and a plant fertilizer. I

7. A fertilizing scale poison for trees, shrubs and vines, containingpotassium cyanid, phosphoric acid, ferric chlorid, ferric nitrate and adesiccating agent.

8. A fertilizing scale poison for trees, shrubs and vines, containingpotassium cyanid, ferric chlorid and ferric nitrate, adapted to bebrought together in the presence of water, to form free hydrocyanicacid.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM RENATUS KLEGKNER.

Witnesses:

GILBERT W. HAND, CLARA MONTAMBEAU.

